Monthly Message, May 2021
A theory is a set of unproved ideas. The word “theory” means vision. Our human minds always invent or appropriate unprovable theoretical frameworks, mental visions, which we use to make sense of and to explain what we observe in our physical (provable) surroundings. For instance, we experience today and make sense of what happens today in the frame of our unprovable imaginings of the past and the future. Because we all think and act in an unprovable frame of reference, we all live by faith. There is no human act that does not proceed in a framework of faith.
There are only two really important systems of faith in this world. To be a careful thinker one must know clearly what these two systems of faith are and choose one’s metaphysical framework, one’s faith, very carefully and deliberately. Let us describe each so that our faith will be careful and deliberate, not just a cultural default. These two most important systems of faith are here called “Humanism” and “Faith in Jesus Christ.”
Humanism has the following main metaphysical parameters:
There is no God, no spiritual realm, only scientifically provable material existence.
Mankind and all life forms are blind creations of matter in motion.
There is no spirit or soul in any human being, and each ceases to exist at death.
There is no right or wrong, only the exercise of power to accomplish chosen goals.
Beauty and good are subjective, not objective, and are cultural artifacts.
Human beings are not free agents in any meaningful sense. They are creatures of material and cultural context. Therefore they cannot be blamed for their actions.
There is no such thing as either sin or salvation from sin.
Wisdom consists in achieving personal desires. Happiness is to eat, drink, and be merry.
The best political arrangement is the smartest humans governing the rest (socialism).
The greatest physical threat to humanity is too many babies.
The greatest cultural threat to humanity is faith in Jesus Christ.
Note that humanism is the principal product of a college education at almost every university world-wide. And its principal personal product is pride.
Faith in Jesus Christ has the following main metaphysical parameters:
God does exist and is the Father of all human beings. There is a spiritual realm, and it governs and controls the material universe.
Mankind and all life forms are careful creations of God.
Each human being has a spirit within that gives each life and freedom to choose to follow either Christ or Satan. That spirit continues after mortal death, and each human being will be resurrected and rewarded eternally with what he or she has chosen during mortal probation.
Each human is an agent and will be held accountable for each choice made.
Each human use of power is either right or wrong. Right is to bless one’s neighbor as God would. Wrong is doing anything other than what is right.
Beauty and good are subjective, but are related to what a person thinks is right and wrong.
Human beings are free to choose to become Gods or devils, or some mixture, but are held responsible only if their choices are made in connection with their knowing the truth of their situation.
Sin is not blessing those around one. Christ will teach each human how not to sin and offers forgiveness of all sins through his atonement. This is the double cure.
Wisdom consists in learning the will of God and doing it. That produces righteousness.
The best political arrangement is to let Christ rule all things. This is called “Zion.” The second best government is a constitutional republic, such as the United States.
There is no greatest physical threat to humanity. Christ controls all things to bless mankind.
There is no greatest cultural threat to humanity. God has arranged physical and cultural existence to be the perfect situation for each human to freely choose his or her own eternity.
Faith in Jesus Christ is promoted by everyone who has faith in Jesus Christ, by every person who accepts the witness and guidance of the Holy Ghost, and by everyone who obeys their conscience.
Bottom line: Humanists blame all human evil on chance, with no one being responsible. Christ’s servants blame all human evil on choice, with the selfishness of individuals being responsible.